Thailand’s endless 3G saga has finally find an outcome: back to the good old fashioned way of dealing problems by giving happy bureaucrats a state monopoly. Never mind the private sector and the rest of the population: sure they will eventually have to pay more for less service, but who cares ?

The long-delayed 3G service license auction has made Thailand among the last countries in Southeast Asia to fully deploy advanced wireless technology. The process has repeatedly been delayed due mainly to the absence of an independent body to regulate broadcasting frequencies, as well as changes in state administrations.
Private operators in Thailand currently operate second-generation mobile-phone services under concessions granted by either TOT or CAT Telecom, which require revenue sharing of around 20%-30% with the state companies.
The winning 3G licensees would have to pay an annual fee of 6% of their revenue to the NTC.
This new development will turn TOT and CAT into the sole operators of nationwide 3G services, which allow better and faster flow of such data as text, e-mail, social media and video on mobile phones. These services are considered crucial in generating revenue in an industry where traditional voice revenue is declining because of intense competition.
As the NTC is unsure about the scope of its licensing authority, TOT and CAT will play a dominant role. Even if they are no longer in a position to grant concessions, they will be the sole providers of the new wireless broadband services. Companies will now have to approach TOT and CAT if they want to take part in this new, lucrative market. Without clear and transparent rules, this could take Thailand back to past mismanagement.
About the author
Bangkok Correspondent for Siam News Network. Editor at Thailand Business News